A new task force has been set up to tackle serious organised crime gangs on UK high streets.
The Government has allocated £30m for a multi-agency task force, spearheaded by the National Crime Agency (NCA) that will focus on carrying out raids, closures and seizures over the next three years.
Around two-thirds of the funding, some £20m, will be designated for the NCA for officers in three regions earmarked as ‘hotspots’ – Greater Manchester, West Midlands and Essex and Kent.
The remaining resources will be split between Trading Standards, immigration enforcement and HMRC.
Announcing the unit, Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood said: “We are hitting back with a nationwide crackdown to shut these fronts down, seize dirty cash and drive organised crime off our high streets and put bosses behind bars.”
The announcement of the unit comes on the heels of a report by the Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) which highlighted high levels of illicit trading and a connection between ‘dodgy shops’ and organised crime gangs.
Chief executive of CTSI, John Herriman, welcomed the introduction of the unit but urged more enforcement powers. “CTSI welcomes the introduction of the High Street Organised Crime Unit, which will bring together partner agencies - including Trading Standards - to tackle organised criminality on our high streets.
“The proliferation of so called ‘dodgy shops’ puts consumers at significant risk and undermines the legitimate businesses who drive economic growth across the UK. The new Unit will bring a much-needed focus to help clamp down on a blight on our high streets and communities,” he added.
“CTSI’s recent report on organised criminality on UK high streets highlighted some of the many challenges Trading Standards face and set out a series of recommendations to empower enforcement agencies to clamp down on the issue. There is an urgent need for the Home Office to rapidly review enforcement powers, resources, and measures to protect Trading Standards officers, so agencies can more effectively disrupt organised criminality.”
Association of Convenience Stores chief executive Ed Woodall added: “Local shops tell us that rogue traders on high streets are causing massive damage to their businesses and the wider community, so we strongly welcome this Government action to back responsible retailers and crack down on the organised crime gangs that are fuelling the illicit trade.”
British Independent Retailers Association CEO Andrew Goodacre also welcomed the formation of the unit. “Independent retailers now face three distinct forms of retail crime - abuse of staff, theft, and the growing threat of illicit traders operating in their communities. Of these, we believe illicit trading may be the greatest long-term threat to local shops and the high streets they anchor. These criminal businesses undercut legitimate retailers, damage communities, and erode the trust that independent shops depend on. We are therefore very pleased to see targeted government action to tackle this head on.”
He added: “Honest independent retailers play by the rules, pay their taxes and invest in their communities. They cannot and should not have to compete with businesses that exist to launder money and evade their obligations. This crackdown sends the right message and we will support its delivery wherever we can.”
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